9th rounder O’Brien agrees to deal

The Roanoke Times has the news. I wrote up O’Brien on draft day, so you can find more info about him here. If he wasn’t a 5′-11″ righthander, O’Brien would be considered a much sexier prospect. He passed on a 98% scholarship to Winthrop, so I suspect his signing bonus is rather large, probably in the $300,000 to $500,000 range, although that’s nothing more than a guess. A solid addition to the farm system. (h/t to Pending Pinstripes)

Update: Lane Meyer points out that O’Brien is also a Type 1 diabetic. Teams tend to be concerned about a player’s ability to hold up over a long season if he’s a diabetic, and I can’t say I really blame them. Current Yankee farmhand Bradley Suttle is also a Type 1 diabetic.

but for me, doesnt it make sense for the kid if the bonus offer you get from the team is enough to pay for school anyway, then why not take your chances with the major league team, and go back to school if you cant hack it?

and dont a lot of these kids work college scholarships into their bonuses, to help push them towards pro ball vs going to school first?

CLT_JR

Would he be better fitted as starter or bullpen guy? With his heat and stature, I would envision a Wagner-esque type reliever.

Tripp

Wagner is from the same area of VA too.

Andy In Sunny Daytona Beach

How about a Tom Gordon-esque reliever? Since he’s a right-handed, and apparently a midget of a pitcher. (just kiddin, he could still block my shot)